Archive for the ‘Meises’ Category

Chief Rabbi of Krakow On His Book

Sunday, June 29th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Halevi of Krakow (“Maor V’Shemesh“) (d 1827) is commemorated on the 1st of Tammuz. The following praise of his works appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

From the Words of the Gaon Rabbi Dov Berisz Meisels On Reb Kalonymus’ Book

There are many authors with keen insights whose works have inspired me.

But here’s a set of criteria I have come up with to exert discretion in selecting which ones to endorse:

1) When through faith an author’s thought has given rise to sweet fruits, instilling wisdom and when his words can be used to raise up those who have stumbled along the way.

2) When I can see, at least, that the words have been arisen in the mind of a man who belongs to a community of those who fear Hashem and who ponder His name, who have found refuge in our town, may his Rock preserve and sustain him: For Hashem is close to him to redeem.

And behold in the case of this author, these two criteria come together.

For, a righteous luminary is the Rav, distinguished in Torah and in awe and kindness, with saintly insights into divine ways.

He has earned an esteemed name in Israel, our teacher the Rav Kalonymus Kalman HaLevi (may his memory be for the life of the world to come). His light has shined in the gates of our town.

His distinguished, well-educated son, the lover of God, Hasid, and fearing God, his father’s pride and joy, our teacher the Rav Aaron Halevi, a luminary in Israel, published the book Maor V’Shemesh in order to provide light also to those counted as Hasidim in our town.

And about the essence of what the book says, behold I have set my eyes upon it and found in it pure, refined sayings. From his mouth, flames come forth that light up the reader’s heart with fear of Hashem and love for Him.

And although I am not of the Hasidic community and I am not usually occupied with mystery teachings, nonetheless, I will not hesitate to say what’s true. For I have thought deeply about what I have read in this book, and behold, his words have intensified in me a love of Hashem and I have been touched by his precious and pleasant ideas.

(From the beginning of the book “Maor vShemesh“)

 

All of Judaism Depends On It!

Monday, June 16th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch of Nadvorna (d. 1801) is commemorated on the 20th of Sivan. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

His Tale Of Pride

In the last year in the life of the Tzaddik, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh, Preacher of Righteousness of Nadverno, my father, z’l, traveled to be with him for Shabbat Shuvah. (At that time, the Rav, Rabbi Mendele z’l was davvening at the shul for the days of Awe.)

The holy Rabbi was insistent for my father z’l to eat at his house on Shabbat instead of his sister’s, and, he added, that she too was invited.

That Shabbat afternoon, the Rav became very weak; he wasn’t able to join the company at the table and he went to his room to lie down.

The servants came to bring in my father, z’l, plus one other person hand-picked to receive a special word from the Rav.

He began with the passuk from the Torah portion (they were reading Vayelech that Shabbat):

“And it will be that many evils and troubles will befall a person and he will ask, ‘Haven’t these evils befallen me because my God is no longer with me?’ God said, ‘I will surely hide My face on that day when the person turned to other deities!'”

And the Rav said:

“I will tell you a thing that happened to which this text speaks:

“There was a young man who was soon to be married.

“He made an oath to himself to undertake a separation and a distancing from the world.

“He engaged himself in Torah study and in Avodah / service / prayer all the time and he remained apart and alone. And he dedicated himself to these activities.

“He would sit there the whole week in fasting from Shabbat to Shabbat, studying torah and praying.

“After some time passed in this way, he said to himself:

‘Be joyful in the deepest places that in such and such ways I have served Hashem with an Avodah as great as this!’

“But he was trapped in a web of false pride and confusion which was not what he had intended.

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Dancing and Spirit

Thursday, June 12th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Aaron II of Karlin (1802-1872) is commemorated on the 17th of Sivan. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

In His View, The Purpose Of Dance

Some people asked Rabbi Aaron of Karlin:

“It seems that Hasidim are usually on the verge of a dance.

“Dear Rabbeinu, please teach us what this is about?”

Rabbi Aaron answered them:

“Yes, it’s true and here’s why.

At the time of dancing, a person rises up some inches above ground level.”

(From Time Immemorial)

 

His Answers Like Urim V’Thummin

Monday, June 9th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Chaim Yisrael Morgenstern (“Pilover”) (1840-1906) is commemorated on the 12th of Sivan. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

One of Kotzk’s Most Important Rebbes

Once, a wealthy person, who was a big-shot in Warsaw, came to ask for advice of the well-respected Gaon and Tzaddik of Pilov as to whether or not he should travel to Vienna to pursue some business.

The Tzaddik gave him the answer:

“You should not do the trip.”

The rich man went from there to Gostynin for a second opinion, asking the advice of the esteemed Rabbi of that place.

The Tzaddik of Gostynin answered him with a simple question:

“And what was the answer from the Rav of Pilov? Whatever he told you is what you should do. I, too, am in agreement with whatever he said. For he is a very great and holy person, held in high esteem by Hashem. He is one of the great Hasidim and, he is one of Kotzk’s most important Rebbes.

“Please! Listen to his words!”

Later, we heard that the wealthy Warsaw person traveled to Vienna dismissing the advice he had received. And sure enough, the matter didn’t go the way he wanted and, he was unsuccessful.

For there is one thing that is quite apparent and well-known to everyone: When the holy Rabbi of Pilov says something, you can count on it.

As when in Temple times the Kohen Gadol / High Priest used to ask a question of the Urim V’Thummim to get back an answer in accord with God’s will, so it is with the Rabbi of Pilov.

(From the Lips of Tzaddikim)

He is Here, Taking Care

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Reb Yisrael (“Baal Shem Tov” “Besh’t”) (d. 1760) is commemorated on Shavuot. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Baal Shem Tov’s Movements

The following was related by the holy Rav Rabbi Zusha of Hanipoli who heard it from his brother the Rav Rabbi Elimelech (the Tzaddik, may his memory be a blessing):

One time, the Baal Shem Tov (Besh’t) arose into supernal realms.

There, he came into contact with the Kabbalist Rav Avraham Azulai, (author of the book Chesed L’Avraham).

He asked him:

“Rabbi! Behold! With God’s help, I brought about ten sacred connections, each very important in Gan Eden / heavenly realms.

“Tell me: For what reason are all the worlds making such a tumult in response to your actions during your descents into lower realms? Tell me, so that I can assist.

“For we of the lower realms haven’t been able to endure your actions for their awesome depth. But I am there and, I can help give greater access and make the needed connections.”

(Shivchei haBesht 54)

A Not-By-Chance Chance Meeting

Sunday, June 1st, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yaakov Shimshon of Shepetovka (d. 1801) is commemorated on the 3rd of Sivan. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Rabbi Yaakov Shimshon in Eastern Lands

In 1799, when he went up to the Holy Land and saw first-hand the oppression and poverty of the Polish Jews who lived there and saw how nearly famished they were, he took his life in his hands and traveled to far-away countries such as Babylon (Iraq) and Egypt to try to raise funds for their relief.

Along the way, he came to a town in lands which were part of Arabia and he entered into the house of an old man, a sage who lived there.

The old man greeted him and, when he heard that the Rabbi was from Poland, he asked if he could tell him something of Rabbi Baruch of Medzhibozh [grandson of the Baal Shem Tov].

When the holy gaon Reb Shimshon, heard this question, he perceived that he had chanced upon a holy man through some not-by-accident, divinely-inspired, blessed happenstance for he had come to a place and found a person there who was acquainted with our Rabbi, Reb Baruch.

He answered the man and said:

“I do, indeed, know Rabbi Baruch.”

And then the Rabbi bowed to the man with deep respect, as one of his servants.

The old man said:

“Would you relate some teaching in his name?”

All at once, in an instant, Rabbi Shimshon drew a blank; nothing came to him; all he had ever heard from our Rabbi could not be found, (which was all the more remarkable since all his life, Rabbi Shimshon had had perfect recall of whatever he had studied).

This grieved him greatly and, it was also very sad for the old sage, since it looked as though he wouldn’t be able to avail himself of this opportunity to hear, as hoped, some relevant teaching of the Rav Rabbi Baruch.

“Might you, at some later time perhaps, recall even one small thing you could mention?”

Thankfully, with this question, the veil lifted from his memory and, with a great sense of relief, he could tell the old man:

“Guess what! I’ve just remembered a small teaching I heard from him and here it is:

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Study, Teshuvah and the Yoke of Heaven

Monday, May 26th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Meir (Meirl) of Premishlan  (1783-1850) is commemorated on the 29th of Iyar. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

His Meeting with the Gaon, Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson

Once, the great teacher, the famous Gaon, the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Shaul Nathanson (z’tz’l) was traveling toward Premishlan.

It was back when he was a young man and, he had come from Lvov where he had just been married (lit. near the table of his nuptials). He was traveling toward Premishlan with an ultimate destination of Berezhany so he could fulfill the mitzvah of honoring his father, the Gaon Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Nathanson ztz’l (author of the book “Beth El”) who lived in Berezhany.

Since the Gaon, Rabbi Yosef Shaul (z’tz’l) had already heard of our holy Rabbi’s reputation, because serious-minded Jews (lit. people of faith) had told him of the Ruach HaKodesh (spirit of holiness) that would always appear when they were with him, he desired to make time to go to him and check him out himself.

When he came into his room, he found our holy Rabbi sitting by his table but no book lay open before him.

Right away, the Gaon Reb Yosef Shaul ztz’l felt critical, for on his part, he was a great perseverer in his studies, did not allow himself to deviate one iota from studies of Torah (lit. did not walk four cubits without Torah).”How was it possible,” he asked himself, “that a person sitting idly, not engaged with torah, could merit for the spirit of holiness (Ruach Hakodesh)?”

When he aproached him and greeted him, the holy Rabbi Meirl said to him:

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Extracting Food’s Holiness

Sunday, May 18th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Twersky (“Chernobyler Maggid”, “Reb Mottel”) (1770-1837) is commemorated on the 20th of Iyar. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

He Raises Sparks of Holiness

Once, a well-to-do Hasid of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl who lived in a different town sought to invite his master to stay as a guest at his house the next time he traveled to his town. And the holy Rav accepted his invitation.

So when the Rabbi was in the vicinity of his town, the Hasid, joined by many of the townspeople, came to meet him to accompany him into the town. The Hasid prepared a big meal for the holy Rav and, when they reached the town, they went to the wealthy man’s house.

When the time for eating arrived, the man noticed that his master had hardly tasted anything of the meal, that the Rav’s way was to either insert the spoon at an angle into the plate and eat that which stuck to the spoon or, he would insert the spoon straight in and then do the same.

This really bothered the man so he approached his master and said to him:

“Rabbeinu (our teacher): I went to all the effort just on account of the holiness which is so much a part of who you are so that I would earn the opportunity for Rabbeinu to eat at my house.

“But instead, his honored holiness won’t taste anything!”

And Rabbi Mordechai answered and said to him:

“You are confused.

“Behold, the purpose of the eating is in order to extract the holy sparks.

“As I stick in my spoon, they are adhering to it, immediately, all the sparks!”

(Library of Tzaddikim)

 

The Two Brothers

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov (“Degel Machaneh Ephraim”) (1748-1800) is commemorated on the 17th of Iyar. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Two Brothers

Rabbi Ephraim and his brother, Rabbi Boruch of Medzhybizh were grandsons of the Baal Shem Tov.

Rabbi Boruch used to frequently travel so he could visit with his Hasidim.

Once, when Rabbi Boruch was on one of his trips, he made a visit to his brother in Sudlikov and saw that his brother’s wife, the Rabbonit, was lighting plain, brass candlesticks for Shabbos.

He groaned and said:

“My brother! Woe is me, that I have witnessed this! For, by now, the time should have already come to pass for you to be lighting silver candlesticks!”

Rabbi Ephraim answered:

“Be happy for what you’re seeing, my brother:

“Better that the candlesticks should be בנכר / unfortunate (b’nikar) with me at home than that I should be roaming about בנכר / in foreign lands (b’nikar) with the candlesticks at home!”

(as told by their Hasidim)

 

Sukkah Man

Saturday, May 10th, 2014

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Naftali Zvi Horowitz of Ropshitz (1760-1827) is commemorated on the 11th of Iyar. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

His Passion Was Mitzvot of the Sukkah

The Tzadikim of his generation said about our Rabbi Naftali of Ropczyce that his soul was passionate for the Mitzvah of the Sukkah in the Torah.

The whole year he was focused on this Mitzvah.

Every day he did some service in a Sukkah or he studied in Masechet Sukkah.

Thus was his way all the days of his life. No matter what, every single day, he mentioned the term “Sukkah” and his words would circle around until he would come to say something about the Sukkah.

(Tent of Naftali).